How to Learn the Multiplication Table
Learning the multiplication table is a benchmark in elementary mathematics. Becoming fluent in multiplication will help your child as they learn division and will reinforce addition concepts.
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Things You'll Need
- small items such as beans or buttons
- cardstock, marker, scissors (to make flashcards)
Instructions
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Learning the Multiplication Table
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Use small objects such as beans or buttons to explain the concept of multiplication and how it relates to addition. Using objects is especially helpful in illustrating the commutative property: 2 x 4 = 8 (two groups of four objects) and 4 x 2 = 8 (four groups of two objects). Have students manipulate the objects to reflect various multiplication problems.
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Explain how counting by numbers relates to multiplication. To begin with, have the child count to fifty by fives. Explain how the third number in the sequence is equivalent to 5 x 3. Children can use the counting technique to solve individual problems quickly. Simple songs can be used to teach the less familiar sequences (for example, sing the 3s to "Are You Sleeping").
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Make some triangular flashcards, with the two numbers being multiplied on two corners and the answer on the third. Hold the cards so that the answer is covered and cycle through them. These cards are useful when learning division, as the cards are held by another corner to create the division problem.
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Make some math games. A simple one is to write multiplication problems on strips of paper and place them in a can. Give the answers to the students (in a small group, each person could have several answer numbers). Begin by having someone draw out a problem. The person with the answer calls out and takes the can next. Continue until the can is empty. Play again and try to increase the speed.
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Tips & Warnings
Employing several varied techniques will help ensure that students understand how to solve multiplication. Emphasizing these skills over rote memorization will enable students to figure out answers if they forget.
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Comments
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mathteach
Nov 09, 2008
Reading "Barrington and the Math Princess" can greatly help when a student is trying to learn the times tables too! -
mathteach
Nov 09, 2008
Reading "Barrington and the Math Princess" can greatly help when a student is trying to learn the times tables too!
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mathteach
Nov 09, 2008
I'm a math teacher, and I have a few additional suggestions to add to the fine ones in this article. When parents have students count by numbers, like by 5's, once the students have mastered going forward, have them go backward: 45, 40, 35, etc. Play "Multiplication War". Use Kings as 13's, Aces as 1's, etc., or remove face cards. Instead of each player turning up 1 card as in the traditional game, each player turns up 2 cards. The child has to tell the parent both what his or her own cards' product is and what the parents' cards' product is. If there is a tie, each player turns up just 2 more cards (no face down ones as in the traditional game). By the way, if you have not played regular "War", the person with the higher card (or in this case, product) takes the other person's cards. Unlike in War, cycle through the deck only once. In War each person reshuffles what they
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mathteach
Nov 09, 2008
I'm a math teacher, and I have a few additional suggestions to add to the fine ones in this article. When parents have students count by numbers, like by 5's, once the students have mastered going forward, have them go backward: 45, 40, 35, etc. Play "Multiplication War". Use Kings as 13's, Aces as 1's, etc., or remove face cards. Instead of each player turning up 1 card as in the traditional game, each player turns up 2 cards. The child has to tell the parent both what his or her own cards' product is and what the parents' cards' product is. If there is a tie, each player turns up just 2 more cards (no face down ones as in the traditional game). By the way, if you have not played regular "War", the person with the higher card (or in this case, product) takes the other person's cards. Unlike in War, cycle through the deck only once. In War each person reshuffles what they
